A Lehighton borough official is upset by a pitch by Lehighton’s mayor to possibly police Weissport.

Lehighton Borough Councilman Joe Flickinger said at Monday’s board council meeting that he was disappointed to hear that Mayor Ryan Saunders reached out to the president of Weissport Borough Council.

Flickinger said he believes Saunders doing such was a case of him “overstepping his bounds.”

“I don’t think we should be providing police service to Weissport borough,” Flickinger said.

Instead, Flickinger said he believes it would be “prudent” of Councilwoman Jordyn Miller, who is vice chair of police, fire, and safety, to attend the meeting set to take place this evening, and not Saunders.

He said he doesn’t believe the borough should be providing police services to another municipality, specifically Weissport, which owes Lehighton a substantial amount of money.

Debt owed

Lehighton officials have said the debt it’s owed from Weissport is for old sewer fees that dates back to the 1990s.

In June 2024, borough council tabled further discussion on recouping the money it said it’s owed by Weissport.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire said then he was in the process of looking at ways to help Weissport, but noted it won’t be an easy task.

Council then tabled further discussion until DeWire had a chance to speak with their staff and members of Weissport Borough Council.

In January 2024, then Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said Lehighton is owed $406,822.

Mayor defends decision

However, Saunders said he believes it’s for the “betterment of our community” for both he and Lehighton Borough Police Chief Troy Abelovsky to have a conversation with Weissport over the possibility of Lehighton policing Weissport.

Saunders noted that Weissport is a neighboring municipality, and that it was merely a matter of Lehighton being good stewards.

Miller said she had no problem with Saunders attending tonight’s meeting with Weissport.

But, Flickinger said he would rather have it that Miller attend to come back with its findings to borough council.

Additionally, he said he doesn’t believe Saunders should have ever made the offer, and that he should have checked with Lehighton Borough Council to see if it was interested.

Weissport police

Last month, Weissport Borough Council President Arland Moyer Sr. reported that Saunders contacted him about Lehighton policing Weissport.

Weissport is once again without a police chief following the resignation last month of Matthew Wentz.

Saunders wanted to set up a meeting of officials from the two boroughs, including Saunders and Abelovsky from Lehighton, and Moyer, Weissport Mayor Jodi Sonon from Weissport.

“It’s to see if there is any way they could possibly give us a hand with their police department to patrol Weissport, until we figure out what we’re doing,” Moyer said.

Weissport Borough Council members approved of the meeting.

Also at last month’s Weissport Borough Council meeting, Sonon reported that she received three applications for the position of police chief, while secretary/treasurer Cheryl Miller said that she had received one more.

The borough is hoping to move quickly to fill the part-time position.

Wentz accepted a full-time position with the West Mahanoy Township Police Department.